Sangam Period in Ancient Tamilakam

The Sangam period or age was a historical period of ancient Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and parts of Sri Lanka (known as Tamilakam), spanning from around the 6th century BCE to the 3rd century CE. Here are some key points about this era:\

• It was named after the famous Sangam academies of poets and scholars, centred in the city of Madurai.
• The chronology of the Sangam literature is still a disputed topic among scholars, but the most probable date has been fixed between the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE.
• Historians and ideologists regard the Sangam period as the ‘classical age’ of the Tamils, comparable to the age of the classics in Greece and Rome and to that of the Renaissance in Europe.
• The term ‘Sangam’ literally means ‘confluence’. In the context of early South Indian history, this term can be rendered into English as an assembly, a college, or an academy of learned people, held under the patronage of the Pandyan kings, who were great lovers of literature and the fine arts.
• According to Tamil legends, there existed three Sangams (Academy of Tamil poets) in ancient Tamil Nadu, popularly called Muchchangam. The third Sangam at Madurai was founded by Mudathirumaran, and it was attended by a large number of poets who produced voluminous literature, but only a few works have survived.

Sangam Literature

• The Sangam works contain mines of information for the study of the early history of Tamilakam. They reflect the matter of great historical importance. Here are some facts about Sangam Literature:
• Tolkappiyam, a treatise on Tamil grammar and poetics, composed probably during the second Sangam, is the oldest extant literary work in Tamil.
• Modern scholarship uses the term ‘Sangam Literature’ for only those works in verse (prose is of much later origin), which are comprised in the Ettutogai (Eight collections), Pattupattu (Ten songs) and Patinenkilkanakku (The Eighteen Minor Works), which are judged to have been produced in that order during the period AD 150-250.
• The Ettutogai or Eight Anthologies consist of eight works: Aingurunooru, Narrinai, Aganaooru, Purananooru, Kuruntogai, Kalittogai, Paripadal, and Padirruppattu.
• The Pattuppattu or Ten Idylls consist of ten works: Thirumurugarruppadai, Porunararruppadai, Sirupanarruppadai, Perumpanarruppadai, Mullaippattu, Nedunalvadai, Maduraikkanji, Kurinjippatttu, Pattinappalai, and Malaipadukadam.
• Pathinenkilkanakku contains eighteen works mostly dealing with ethics and morals. The most important among them is Tirukkural authored by Thiruvalluvar.
• The so-called ‘Five Epics’ (‘the five great poems’) include Jivakachintamani, Silappadikaram, Manimekalai, Valayapathi, and Kundalakesi.
• Ilango Adigal was the author of Silappadikaram.
• Manimekalai was written by Sathanar mainly to propound the Buddhist doctrine among Tamils.
• These poetical works describe the social, religious, economic, and political conditions of Tamilakam with a focus on cities like Madurai, Puhar (Poompuhar/ Kaveripattinam), Vanji (Karur) and
• Also, the ‘Eighteen Minor Works’ include the ethical and didactic literature. The didactic literature, which includes the world famous Tirukkural is mostly in stanza form.

Political History:

During the Sangam Age, the Tamil country was ruled by three dynasties: Chera, Chola, and Pandya. The literary references trace the political history of these dynasties.

Cheras:

• The Cheras ruled over parts of modern Kerala.
• Their capital was Vanji, and their important seaports were Tondi and Musiri.
• Cheran Senguttuvan belonged to 2nd century A.D. His younger brother was Elango Adigal, the author of Silappathigaram.

Cholas:

• The Chola kingdom of the Sangam period extended from modern Tiruchi district to southern Andhra Pradesh.
• Their capital was first located at Uraiyur and then shifted to Puhar.

Pandyas:

• The Pandyas ruled over the present-day southern Tamil Nadu. Their capital was Madurai.
• Maduraikkanji written by Mangudi Maruthanar describes the socioeconomic condition of the Pandya country, including the flourishing seaport of Korkai.
• The Pandyan rule during the Sangam Age began to decline due to the invasion of the Kalabhras.

Minor Chieftains:

• The minor chieftains played a significant role in the Sangam period.
• Although they were subordinate to the Chera, Chola, and Pandya rulers, they were powerful and popular in their respective regions.

Sangam Polity:

• Hereditary monarchy was the form of government during the Sangam period.
• The king had to take the advice of his minister, court-poet, and the imperial court or avai.
• Each of the Sangam dynasties had a royal emblem, such as a carp for the Pandyas, tiger for the Cholas, and a bow for the Cheras.
• The imperial court or Avai was attended by a number of chiefs and officials.
• The king was assisted by a large body of officials who were divided into five councils, namely ministers (amaichar), priests (anthanar), military commanders (senapathi), envoys (thuthar), and spies (orrar).
• The policies of the king were controlled by a system of checks and balances in the councils.
• The military administration was also efficiently organized during the Sangam Age.
• Land revenue was the chief source of the state's income, and custom duty was imposed on foreign trade.
• The Pattinappalai refers to the custom officials employed in the seaport of Puhar.
• Roads and highways were well maintained and guarded night and day to prevent robbery and smuggling.
• Tolkappiyam refers to the two types of councils - Aimperunkulu and Enperayam.
• The Aimperunkulu or the council of five members was the council of the ministers.
• The Enperayam or the great assembly (perayam) consisted of eight members (government officers).
• The military administration was efficiently organized during the Sangam Age.

Sangam Society:

• Tolkappiyam refers to the fivefold division of lands.
• Tolkappiyam also refers to four castes, namely Arasar (ruling class), Anthanars (significant role in Sangam polity and religion), Vanigars (carried on trade and commerce), and Vellalas (agriculturists).
• Other tribal groups like Parathavar, Panar, Eyinar, Kadambar, Maravar, and Pulaiyar were also found in the Sangam society.
• Ancient primitive tribes like Thodas, Irulas, Nagas, and Vedars lived in this period.

Religion:

• Primary deity of the Sangam period was Seyon or Murugan, hailed as Tamil God
• Other gods worshipped during Sangam period were Mayon (Vishnu), Vendan (Indiran), Varunan and Korravai
• Festivals relating to God Murugan were mentioned in Sangam literature
• Hero Stone or Nadu Kal worship was significant, erected in memory of warrior bravery

Position of Women

• Women poets like Avvaiyar, Nachchellaiyar, and Kakkaipadiniyar flourished in Sangam period
• Women's courage was appreciated in many poems
• Karpu or Chaste life was considered the highest virtue of women
• Love marriage was common practice and women allowed to choose their life partners
• Life of widows was miserable and practice of Sati was prevalent in higher strata of society
• Class of dancers was patronized by kings and nobles

Fine Arts:

• Poetry, music, and dancing were popular among people of Sangam age
• Liberal donations given to poets by kings, chieftains, and nobles
• Royal courts crowded with singing bards called Panar and Viraliyar, experts in folk songs and folk dances
• Arts of music and dancing were highly developed
• Variety of Yazhs and drums referred to in Sangam literature
• Dancing performed by Kanigaiyar
• Koothu was the most popular entertainment of the people

Economy of the Sangam Age

• Agriculture was chief occupation with rice as common crop
• Ragi, Sugarcane, Cotton, Pepper, Ginger, Turmeric, Cinnamon, and a variety of fruits were other crops
• Handicrafts of Sangam period were popular, including weaving, metal works and carpentry, ship building, and making of ornaments using beads, stones, and ivory
• Great demand for products as internal and external trade at peak during Sangam period
• Spinning and weaving of cotton and silk clothes attained high quality
• Both internal and foreign trade well organized and briskly carried on in Sangam age
• Merchants carried goods on carts and animal-back, and internal trade mostly based on barter system
• External trade carried between South India and Greek kingdoms, and after ascendancy of Roman Empire, Roman trade assumed importance
• Port city of Puhar became emporium of foreign trade, with other ports of commercial activity including Tondi, Musiri, Korkai, Arikkamedu, and Marakkanam
• Main exports were Cotton, Fabrics, Spices like Pepper, Ginger, Cardamom, Cinnamon, and Turmeric, Ivory products, Pearls, and precious stones
• Chief imports were Gold, horses, and sweet wine

Analysis of the Sangam Age

• Sangam polity characterized by patriarchal and patrimonial systems, with administrative staff system and various offices directly controlled by rulers
• Social inequalities with dominance of Brahmanas but acute class distinction lacking in Sangam age
• Agriculture backbone of Sangam economy, with trading activities and relations with Mediterranean World enriching economy
• Foreign elements influenced socio-economic and cultural life of people
• Beliefs and customs suggest complex nature of Sangam religion, with both animism and idol worship followed

End of the Sangam Age

• Toward end of third century A.D., Sangam period slowly witnessed decline
• Kalabhras occupied Tamil country for about two and a half centuries, with little information about their rule
• Jainism and Buddhism became prominent during this period
• Later, Pallavas in northern Tamil Nadu and Pandyas in southern Tamil Nadu drove Kalabhras out